Dome 'led super-casino shortlist'

Only one site will eventually get the go-ahead for a super-casino

The Millennium Dome in south-east London topped a shortlist of possible venues for the UK's first Las Vegas style "super-casino", it has emerged.

Greenwich came ahead of Glasgow and Blackpool in the first round of judging by the Casino Advisory Panel, which whittled 27 entrants down to eight.

Behind them were Sheffield, Brent, Newcastle, Cardiff and Manchester.

The dome's bid has been at the centre of recent controversy surrounding Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

He was rebuked by the Commons standards committee for not immediately declaring a visit to the ranch of US tycoon Philip Anschutz - the man bidding for a licence to turn the Dome into a super casino.

VYING FOR VEGAS Greenwich - 67 (points out of 80) Glasgow - 66 Blackpool - 65 Sheffield - 62 Brent - 58 Newcastle - 58 Cardiff - 57 Manchester - 57

Mr Prescott has denied being under any undue influence and said he is not directly involved in decisions about the Dome.

More than 60 local authorities applied for the small and large casino licences, but only one site will eventually get the go-ahead for a super-casino with unlimited slot machine jackpots.

A further 16 licences for small and large casinos with jackpot limits of £4,000 will also be granted.

London mayor Ken Livingstone has said he was pleased to see plans for regional casinos at the Dome, and in Brent, were going forward.

He added: "I am particularly pleased that the panel has clearly looked beyond the recent controversy surrounding the Greenwich proposal based on the Dome, and has clearly weighed the merits of what is proposed there."

The panel's data was released as an earlier deadline for submissions from other local authorities was extended.

Possible venues were awarded marks out of 10 in eight criteria.

They included social impact, need for regeneration, willingness to license, probability of implementation, regional context, community benefits, unique characteristics and range of areas.

A spokeswoman for the panel said the next stage of judging would not be affected by the results of the first round.

The final decision is expected to be handed to ministers in December.